Jack hemmed and hawed as he shifted his weight, and Will punched his arm.
Jack’s face broke into a smile. “Glad to hear she let ya! Good for ye. I still don’t agree with all them ways, but I can be proud that the lady likes ye.” He paused. “But it’s just ye never break any rule, especiallythatone—”
“Well, it would have been all right, except Crenshaw stumbled upon us and told the captain.”
Jack let out a low whistle and shook his head.
Will explained the rest of the story, and after Jack expressed his disbelief of it all, especially how the captain took it, Will grew silent.
“So,” Jack whispered, “what’s the understanding between ye and the lady?”
“That’s why I’m telling you. I thought she rather liked the whole episode. I wrote her a note saying we needed to be apart for the time being, but—”
“Wait a jolly minute,” said Jack, rubbing his eyes and staring directly at Will. “How long do ye plan to stay apart?”
Will threw up his hand. “I don’t know. The captain has hinted at a promotion, and I don’t want to lose that by disobey—”
“Ye are an idiot.” Jack rubbed his hands together.
Will was tired of his friend cutting him off when he was telling such a painful yarn already—
“No, really, Will,” he continued. “Ye don’t kiss a lady and then go silent and get all lily-livered and hide behind a promotion.”
“I am not hiding behind a promotion—”
“Ah, but ye are, ya dolt. Ye got to ask the captain for permission, or at the very least sneak in a way to talk with her. I don’t care who ye are, keepin’ yer distance on a boat like this is a one-way ticket to dismissin’ a person, real swift.”
Will studied his friend. “Since when do you have expertise in this area?”
Jack let out a laugh which only further unnerved Will. “I just see things as they is. I’d say yer a skilled enough sailor to know how to happen upon her again, if ye really wanted.”
Will stilled. His friend was right. He could come up with half a dozen plausible reasons for being in the same place as her. If there was even the slightest chance she still cared for him, that would be worth knowing.
This conversation had confirmed that Crenshaw hadn’t let slip the story of their kiss, so as long as he avoided the second mate and didn’t try to kiss her again, surely they could at least speak.
“I believe your watch is over,” said Will, gesturing for Jack to leave with a newfound determination.
“So ye aren’t so enamored with that sky, anymore, eh?”
“Enjoy your sleep, Mr. Flynn.”
Jack chuckled again, and Will started to patrol the deck, working out his energy with every stride. But halfway down the deck he paused and turned back to Jack, who had just lifted the hatchway near him. “Hey, Jack,” he said, quietly enough that the other sailors aft and starboard couldn’t hear him, “I thought you were against this whole idea?”
“I still don’t trust their beliefs. But I want to see my friend happy, I s’pose. Plus I like Miss Fowles, what with all her help in the sick bay and watchin’ over ye.” He smiled wide and then shrugged. “She’s a good ’un.”
Will couldn’t help smiling. Jack was a true friend, even if they’d thought differently on many things this voyage. One had to fully appreciate a friend who could point out when his friend was a complete imbecile involving the fairer sex. He just hoped there was still a way to undo any damage he’d unwittingly done.
“Will!” Jack called out, pointing behind him. “The sailor at the forecastle!”
Will spun toward the darkened front of the ship in time to see a sailor’s swaying body slump to the side and fall across the deck.
The way he suddenly lost consciousness was all too familiar to Will, and he took off running.
He knew which sailor it was before the lantern nearby shone on the boy’s face. “Scotty!” He scooped him up and one touch confirmed his concerns. The boy was burning up, the telltale sign of smallpox.
With Scotty in his arms, Will hurried back toward the hatch nearest Jack.
Jack had already scrambled out to meet him. “Is it what I think?”
